Thanks be to God for our FVL Schools Band Program!

We have arrived at the last week of the Cadet Band and Concert
Winds rehearsal and performance schedule! We thank our
gracious God for His blessings on our program! Without His
guidance our efforts would be in vain. We also thank Him for
our wonderful parents and volunteers who help in countless ways to
ensure the success of our young musicians. We thank Him for
the directors of our program and their professionalism and the joy
for music that that they share with the bands. We thank Him for the
many principals and teachers at our member schools, for helping to
promote band and make it possible to give lessons during the school
day. Last, but certainly not least, we thank God for the many
students who make up our FVL Schools Band Program! Their
endless source of energy and enthusiasm is a constant pick-me-up
for all of us who work with them week in and week out.

I also want to thank our band members for their efforts in lessons
this year! I am amazed every week with the progress our
students are making in their lesson books, but more importantly to
see how they are growing as musicians. Playing an instrument
is an activity that begins somewhat slowly for most students, but
as they start to "get it"; it becomes increasingly more enjoyable
as a player when they begin to produce really excellent
music. It is also an activity that they can enjoy for many
years to come, as they enter high school, college, and
beyond. This year we have had MANY of our students playing in
church, school chapel services, and accompanying choirs. What
a joy for us directors to see the musical gifts of our students
being put to such good use! As parents, your encouragement of
your young musicians is crucial to their growth and
advancement.

Music is one of the few activities that can be enjoyed for a
lifetime, both as a participant and as a spectator. It is a
passion that touches the emotional, physical, and intellectual
senses. As Martin Luther so beautifully stated, "Music makes
people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable. I am strongly
persuaded that after theology there is no art that can be placed on
a level with music; for besides theology music is the only art
capable of affording peace and joy of the heart."

Final Weekend of Rehearsals and Performances!

We have arrived at the end of our 2016-2017 FVL Schools Band year!
How exciting to think of where we were last September, and
where we are now. It is always great to see the growth in our
student musicians, most notably the Cadet Band and their
advancement. It really has been a very good year. We
thank the Lord for his continued blessings on our FVL Schools Band
Program!

Band Awards

Following our final rehearsal on Saturday, April 22, we will be
handing out various awards, including medals for students who
completed books during the second semester, WSMA Solo Medals,
Attendance Awards, and the Director's Awards (2). Our awards
will be presented in the Auditorium. We would like all band
students and parents to be in attendance if at all possible.
Grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins (and other siblings) are
also welcome!

Sunday, April 23 - FVL Schools Spring Band Concert

The concert begins at 6:00 PM in the FVL Auditorium.

Band members should arrive by 5:00 PM (Concert Black and White
clothing), so we can hand out Concert Vests and Ties prior to warm
up. Cadet Band and Concert Winds will report to their regular
rehearsal rooms at that time.

The students are encouraged to wear their medals
for completing books to the concert! It adds a
special touch to the band uniform, and is a visible acknowledgement
of a job well-done!

Students who were awarded medals for the Solo Festival are also
encouraged to wear them for the concert.

Band Lesson Schedules and FVL instruments

Mr. Neujahr will be giving lessons this next week at all schools.
Students with FVL instruments will be turning them in following
their last lesson.

The one exception for the final lesson will be St. John,
Wrightstown, whose students will have their last lesson on
Wednesday, May 3.

Mr. Kramer will follow this schedule (FVL instruments turned in
after last lesson):

FVL-owned instruments are sent to Heid Music every spring for
annual repair and maintenance. Students who will be renting them
from us next year will, in most cases, be given the same instrument
next year. Students who are taking summer lessons or
attending music camps will be issued an instrument after they are
returned from Heid Music. If you will need an instrument for
the summer, please contact James Neujahr.

SUMMER LESSONS - Mr. Kramer will not be giving
lessons this summer as in the past few years. If you would
like to take lessons this summer, most public school districts
offer lessons or group band activities. Please check with
your area school district for information.

Lesson Books Completed During the Second
Semester

The students listed below have completed a lesson book and moved on
in our series "Standard of Excellence" (SOE). Our lesson
series contains two books from SOE, 1 (Red), 2 (Blue). We use
the Rubank Intermediate or Advanced Method for students who advance
beyond Book 2 in the Standard of Excellence series.

Students Completing the Mallet Book

Jerrett Schuette, Grade 8, Immanuel Greenville

Congratulations to all of these students! They will also
receive their medal at this week's awards for completing their
books. Students are encouraged to wear their medals
for the concert this weekend.

Much information was given in the previous Update. Rather
than re-post all of it, please take time to review the materials
from the April 1 Update:

1. Final Rehearsal and Band
Awards on Saturday, April 22
2. Spring Concert April 23 - what to wear,
when to arrive
3. WSMA Concert Festival for the Concert
Winds (NOT Cadet Band) on Wednesday, April 12

Information about what to wear

Schedule for the day

Student Critique form

Notes for the parents who are driving

Public Performance - all are invited into the auditorium to
listen to the bands and the adjudicator comments

Still Seeking Volunteers for April 12

I am seeking parents or other volunteers to assist on Wednesday,
April 12. On that day, FVL is hosting a WSMA Concert Festival for
bands. The festival will begin at 8:00 and continue until the end
of the school day. FVL has school the day of the festival, but our
activities will be confined to the small gym (band homerooms) and
the music wing of the school. In addition to FVL's Symphonic Band,
we will host eight other visiting bands: three from St. Francis
Xavier Middle School, our own FVL Schools Concert Winds, St. Martin
Lutheran Grade School, two from Freedom High School, and one from
Oshkosh Merrill Middle School. The bands will perform in the
auditorium for a panel of three adjudicators, and will receive a
rating for their efforts. Since the adjudicators meet at 8:00 and
the first band is scheduled to begin at 8:30, a few parents will be
needed already at about 8:00.

We will need volunteers to serve as door monitors, room
chairmen, hosts for the visiting bands, assist on stage with moving
equipment/stands/chairs between bands, and office/computer duties.
In addition, volunteers will be needed to put together a
hospitality room for the three adjudicators and the visiting band
directors. This room would provide light snacks (muffins, fruit,
juice, etc.) for them in the morning, as well as provide a light
lunch for the three adjudicators for their lunch break.

We're using SignUp.com (the leading online SignUp and reminder
tool) to organize our volunteers. Most volunteer duties are divided
into morning and afternoon shifts. If you are able to volunteer for
both morning and afternoon shifts, please sign up for both.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/MREeTe
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you
like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account
or keep a password on SignUp.com.

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone.
If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and
I can sign you up manually.

If you are not able to volunteer for the day, the event is free
and open to the public. You are all invited to come and enjoy the
band's performances.

Lesson Changes for April 10-14

Due to the WSMA Concert Festival on Wednesday, April 12, we will
observe the following changes to the lesson schedule:

Tuesday, April 11 - Mr. Neujahr will give
lessons at St. John, Wrightstown at 10:00 AM. NO LESSONS at
Mount Olive. Lessons will be given at Shepherd of the Valley
as normal.

Wednesday, April 12 - NO LESSONS for Mr.
Kramer's and Mr. Neujahr's students.